HAUNTED PLACES.

The spontaneous manifestations that have occurred in all ages, and the persistence of some Spirits in giving ostensible signs of their presence in certain localities, constitute the source of the belief in the existence of haunted places. The answers that follow were given to questions asked on this subject:

1st Do Spirits attach themselves solely to persons, or also to things?

“That depends on their elevation.

Some Spirits may attach themselves to earthly objects.

Misers, for instance, who hid their treasures and who are not yet sufficiently dematerialized, often persist in watching over them and keeping guard upon them.”

2nd Do wandering Spirits have places of their preference?

“The principle here is again the same. The Spirits who are no longer attached to the Earth go wherever an opportunity is offered to them to practice love. They are attracted more by persons than by material objects.

Nevertheless, it may happen that some of them have, for a certain time, a preference for particular places. These, however, are always inferior Spirits.” 3rd The attachment of Spirits to a locality, being a sign of inferiority, will it likewise be proof that they are wicked?

“Certainly not.

A Spirit may be little advanced without therefore being wicked.

Is the same not observed among men?”

4th Has the belief that Spirits frequent ruins by preference any foundation?

“None.

Spirits go to such places, as to all others.

It is the imagination of men that, awakened by the lugubrious aspect of certain sites, attributes to the presence of Spirits what is almost always merely a very natural effect.

How many times has fear not made the shadow of a tree be taken for a phantom, and the cry of an animal, or the breath of the wind, for specters?

Spirits like the presence of men; hence they prefer inhabited places to deserted ones.” a — Nevertheless, from what we know of the diversity of characters among Spirits, we may infer the existence of misanthropic Spirits, who prefer solitude.

“For that very reason, I did not answer the question in an absolute manner.

I said that they may come to deserted places, as everywhere. It is evident that, if some keep themselves isolated, it is because it so pleases them.

That, however, does not constitute a reason for them necessarily to have a predilection for ruins. They exist in far greater number in cities and palaces than within the woods.” 5th In general, popular beliefs preserve a basis of truth. What may have been the origin of the belief in haunted places?

“The basis of truth lies in the manifestation of Spirits, in which man has instinctively believed in all ages.

But, as I said above, the lugubrious aspect of certain places strikes his imagination, and this naturally leads him to place in those places the beings he considers supernatural.

Moreover, to sustain this superstitious belief, there are the poetic narratives and fantastic tales with which he is lulled in childhood.” 6th Are there, for the Spirits who are accustomed to gather, days and hours in which they prefer to do so?

“No. Days and hours are measures of time for the use of men and for corporeal life, of which Spirits feel no need and to which they pay no heed.”

7th Whence arose the idea that Spirits come by preference during the night?

“From the impression that silence and darkness produce on the imagination.

All these beliefs are superstitions that the rational knowledge of Spiritism will destroy.

The same is true of the days and hours that many judge to be more favorable to them.

Rest assured that the influence of midnight never existed except in tales.” a — That being so, why then is it that some Spirits announce their coming and their manifestations for certain and determined days, such as Friday, for example?

“This is done by Spirits who take advantage of the credulity of men to amuse themselves.

For the same reason, there are those who call themselves the devil, or give themselves infernal names.

Show them that you do not let yourselves be deceived, and they will return no more.” 8th Do Spirits prefer to frequent the tombs where their bodies rest?

“The body was a mere garment.

Just as the prisoner feels no attraction for the chains that bound him, Spirits feel none for the wrapping that made them suffer.

The remembrance of the persons who are dear to them is the only thing that has value for them.”

a — Are the prayers offered for them at the tombs of their bodies more agreeable to them than any others?

“Prayer, as you well know, is an evocation that attracts Spirits.

It will have all the greater effect the more fervent and sincere it is.

Now, beside a venerated tomb, one is always in greater recollection than elsewhere, and the keeping of cherished relics is a testimony of affection given to the Spirit which never fails to move him.

What acts upon the Spirit is always the thought and not the material objects.

These objects exert more influence upon the one who prays than upon the Spirit, because they fix his attention.” 9th In view of this, it seems that the belief in haunted places should not be considered absolutely false?

“We have said that certain Spirits may feel themselves attracted by material things.

They may be so by particular places, where they seem to establish a dwelling, until the circumstances that made them seek those places disappear.”

a — What circumstances may induce them to seek such places?

“Sympathy for some of the persons who frequent them, or the desire to communicate with them.

However, they are not always animated by praiseworthy intentions. When they are wicked Spirits, they may aim to take vengeance on persons against whom they hold grievances.

Remaining in a particular place may also be, for some, a punishment inflicted upon them, especially if they committed a crime there, so that they have it constantly before their eyes. n 10th Are haunted places always haunted by their former inhabitants?

“Not always — sometimes, 2 for, if the former inhabitant of one of these places is an elevated Spirit, he will concern himself as little with his earthly dwelling as with his body.

The Spirits who haunt certain places often have, in so acting, no other motive than mere caprice, unless they are drawn there by the sympathy that particular persons inspire in them.” a — May they establish themselves in such a place with the aim of protecting a person, or the family itself?

“Certainly, if they are good Spirits; 2 but, in this case, they never manifest their presence by disagreeable means.”

11th Is there anything real in the story of the White Lady?

“A mere tale, drawn from a thousand true facts.”

12th Is it rational to fear the places haunted by Spirits?

“No.

The Spirits who frequent certain places, producing disorders in them, would rather amuse themselves at the expense of the credulity and cowardice of men than do them harm.

Besides, you must remember that there are Spirits everywhere, and that, thus, wherever you may be, you will have them at your side, even in the most tranquil dwellings.

Almost always, they haunt certain houses only because they find an opportunity to manifest their presence in them.” 13th Are there means of expelling them?

“There are; but, most of the time, what is done for this attracts them, instead of driving them away.

The best means of expelling wicked Spirits consists in attracting the good ones.

Attract, then, the good Spirits, by practicing all the good you can, and the wicked ones will disappear, since good and evil are incompatible.

Be always good, and you will have only good Spirits beside you.” a — There are, nevertheless, very kindly persons who live amid the pranks of wicked Spirits. Why?

“If these persons are truly good, this happens perhaps as a trial, to exercise their patience and incite them to become still better.

Be assured, however, that those who continually speak of the virtues are not the ones who most possess them.

He who is in possession of real qualities is almost always unaware of it, or never speaks of them.” 14th What should be thought concerning the efficacy of exorcisms for driving wicked Spirits from haunted places?

“Have you had occasion to verify the efficacy of that process? Have you not seen, on the contrary, the pranks redouble in intensity after the ceremonies of exorcism? It is because the Spirits who cause them amuse themselves at being taken for the devil.

“Also, those who do not present themselves with malevolent intentions may manifest their presence by means of noises and even by becoming visible, but they never commit disorders, nor cause annoyances. They are frequently suffering Spirits, whose sufferings you can relieve by praying for them.

Other times, they are even beneficent Spirits, who wish to prove to you that they are beside you, or else frivolous Spirits at play.

Since almost always those who disturb one’s rest are Spirits who amuse themselves, the best thing to do, for those who find themselves persecuted, is to laugh at what befalls them. The disturbers grow weary, finding that they cannot instill fear, nor cause impatience.” (See above, chapter V: Spontaneous physical manifestations.)

It follows from the explanations above that there are Spirits who attach themselves to certain places, preferring to remain in them, without, however, having any need to manifest their presence by means of perceptible effects.

Any place may constitute the obligatory, or favorite, abode of a Spirit, even a wicked one, without any manifestation ever being produced.

Those who attach themselves to certain localities, or to certain material things, are never superior Spirits.

Nevertheless, even if they do not belong to this category, it may be that they are not wicked and harbor no evil intention.

Not infrequently, they are even guests more useful than harmful, for, since they take an interest in persons, they can protect them. [1] See Spiritist Review, of February 1860: Story of a damned soul.